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Cantonese

Cantonese
Cantonese is a southern Chinese dialect, which is an integral part of Hong Kong’s identity and culture.
The Tower of Heavenly Success with the Tan River in the background, in Majianglong, Taishan. Photo: Graeme Kennedy
Asia travel

The Chinese city where waffles, watchtowers and world history meet

Guangdong’s ‘hometown of overseas Chinese’ is where architecture and cuisine created by returning émigrés reveal how culture flows both ways.

Lunar New Year

Being Chinese | The great Lunar New Year divide and how I bridged it

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My Life

He thought his life was a failure. Then he wrote it down.

Food and Drinks

10 great Lunar New Year food and drink gifts available in Hong Kong

From chic hampers with abalone and nuts to local gin, these gifts are great for giving – and sharing – to ring in the Year of the Horse 2026.

Hong Kong hotel Cordis’ Ming Court Deluxe Chinese New Year Hamper is one of the many great gifts you can buy for friends or family members ahead of your next Lunar New Year gathering. Photo: Cordis
Education in Hong Kong

Will allowing more Hong Kong schools to use English be too testing for pupils?

After decades of debate, authorities and schools sector say time is right to adjust the language policy but some argue move is mainly political.

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Hong Kong society

Letters | Vulnerable families in Hong Kong simply must master Cantonese

Readers discuss the transformative power of a trilingual skill set, public awareness of the shark fin problem, and how to increase public participation in recycling.

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Chinese culture

7 horse-themed Chinese idioms to use during the Year of the Horse

Horses symbolise strength, speed and health in Chinese culture. Here are seven sayings based on the animal, with Cantonese pronunciations.

Horses are the subject of many Chinese idioms. Here are seven of the most popular horse-related expressions in Chinese, how to pronounce them in Cantonese and the stories behind them. Photo: Shutterstock
Chinese culture

Lunar New Year greetings in Mandarin, Cantonese, Shanghainese and Hokkien

The Year of the Horse 2026 will be welcomed across China with blessings for money, health and more. Here are common ones and their meanings.

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On Our Radar

A Napa legend, a Cantonese feast and a very bold pairing

The Californian vineyard that stunned the wine world 50 years ago is being paired with Cantonese cuisine.

Hong Kong

7 stories from 2025 that made us feel good, including a Jimmy O. Yang interview

Need a feel-good boost? We revisit seven uplifting stories from the year, showcasing Hong Kong artists, adorable Cantonese teachers and more.

Jimmy O. Yang poses at The Peninsula Hong Kong hotel in Tsim Sha Tsui. Jimmy was interviewed ahead of his sold-out shows in Hong Kong. Photo: Sun Yeung
Performing arts in Hong Kong

Wicked songs in Cantonese? New online series champions Hong Kong talent

Songs like ‘Popular’ and ‘What Is This Feeling’ have been painstakingly translated for the ‘Wicked in Canto’ series on YouTube and Instagram.

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Singers Chloe Wong (left) and Marco Tang are part of the 17-person troupe responsible for “Wicked in Canto”, a series of videos featuring songs from the global musical phenomenon performed in Cantonese. Photo: Edmond So
Hong Kong society

Opinion | Simplified Chinese for tests? Rigid education system needs proper reform

School’s aim to provide a ‘more friendly assessment system’ is ironic, given Hong Kong’s failure to provide an inclusive environment for ethnic minority students.

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Food and Drinks

Chinese restaurant owner Amy Poon gets steamy at her new London joint

With open flames banned in the 18th-century building overlooking the Thames that houses Poon’s at Somerset House, Poon had to get creative.

Asian cinema: Hong Kong film

Why new documentary on Beyond’s Wong Ka-kui only tells part of the story

Because of You – Ka Kui, about the life of the Hong Kong frontman, is marred by the same issues that tore Beyond apart after his death.

Wong Ka-kui in a still from Because of You – Ka Kui. The new documentary tells the story – albeit an incomplete one – of the late frontman of Beyond, widely considered Hong Kong’s most influential band ever.
Food and Drinks

What is Shandong cuisine? Chefs’ Hong Kong dinners bring out food’s best

Chef Wang Haoquan’s Shandong cuisine and Tsang Chiu-King’s Cantonese dishes were a match made in heaven at recent dinners in Hong Kong.

Chef Wang Haoquan’s signature braised sea cucumber with scallions is quintessentially Jiaodong cuisine. Photo: Ming Court
Hong Kong culture

Want to learn Cantonese? Take lessons from this 8-year-old from Hong Kong

Aiden Tsang makes learning Cantonese fun with his cute Instagram videos that get likes from Jimmy O. Yang and other Hong Kong celebrities.

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Hong Kong politics

From Stephen Chow films to Beyond hits: PLA sailors share Hong Kong affinity

Crew from Qi Jiguang and Yimeng Shan recount experience in city as residents enjoy final open day.

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Hong Kong society

Letters | Handle integration of Hong Kong’s ethnic minority children with care

Readers discuss Chinese language acquisition among children from the city’s ethnic minority communities, and the harm social media causes children.

Children from Hong Kong’s ethnic minority communities return to the city after a three-day trip to Guangzhou and Foshan, on August 14. Photo: Pool
Chinese culture

Being Chinese | Life and finance lessons from my Hong Kong mahjong parties

I was a hit with my mahjong buddies because I didn’t play like a typical Chinese person. The years since have taught me better.

Hong Kong economy

Opinion | Success of Hong Kong’s top talent scheme must go deeper than numbers

The city must attract talent willing to develop careers and raise families here, instead of those just staying long enough to secure residency benefits.

Hong Kong police

Exclusive | On the beat with Hong Kong’s highest-ranking colonial-era expatriate officer

Assistant Commissioner David Jordan reflects on bridging cultures, balancing tradition, protests and progress throughout his 30-year career.

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Interview with Assistant Commissioner of Police (Ops) of Hong Kong Police Force’s Department Operations Wing, David Jordan at Police HQ in Wan Chai. Photo: Karma Lo
Food and Drinks

Chinese-Canadian families and their restaurants get their stories told

Online project tells immigrant stories of restaurant and cafe owners from Montreal to Vancouver, and brought its maker and her dad closer.

Sons & Daughters creator Suyin Looui (left) with her daughter and father Steffan in front of the Chinese-Canadian cafe he worked in growing up. Looui’s project tells stories of Chinese immigrants in Canada and their experiences in such cafes and restaurants. Photo: Suyin Looui
Performing arts in Hong Kong

‘Phenomenal’: Hong Kong musical’s extra 10 shows sell out in hours

Buzz from The Impossible Trial’s sold-out Shanghai and Beijing runs sparked a ticket frenzy for 10 additional shows in its Hong Kong return.

Food and Drinks

Chinese dining etiquette dos and don’ts, from who eats first to tea pouring

Chinese table manners and traditions emphasise sharing and politeness and can be complicated. Here are the most important rules.

Hong Kong economy

Spouses, children of top talent unhappy with life in Hong Kong: university study

Hang Seng University study finds nearly 70 per cent of spouses, 85 per cent of children reported feeling dissatisfied with life in Hong Kong.

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The study’s researchers spoke to the spouses and children of successful admitted under the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme. Photo: Edmond So
My Life

From a corner shop to cabaret star: Rick Lau reflects on his journey

A clairvoyant told him he was destined for the stage, so he changed his whole career trajectory, but even growing up in Hong Kong, he was inspired by Barry Manilow.

Cabaret show performer Rick Lau grew up in Hong Kong. Photo: Eugene Chan
Hong Kong society

No Cantonese, no career? Can Hong Kong do more to help ethnic minority groups?

Discrimination, a lack of Cantonese and integration into society are issues not yet resolved, say NGOs and experts.

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Music

Who is Lan Lao? Meet the Chinese rapper more popular than Jay Chou

Mixing Cantonese culture with American rap influences, Lan Lao is a viral sensation inspired by stars like Drake, Young Thug and Wang Yitai.

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